Should I get my wisdom teeth removed before joining the military?

Jhon Caprisi — Mon, 04 Sep 2017 18:53:04 -0400

Would it be better for anyone who is joining the military to get there wisdom teeth removed or could you still have them in some branches just curious. I plan on getting mine removed simply because I don't have the room. But if you did should you

Response by SP5 Peter Keane made Sep 4 at 2017 6:57 PM

SP5 Peter Keane — Mon, 04 Sep 2017 18:57:47 -0400

Mine were removed a couple of weeks prior to being shipped out to VN. If you have good dental insurance, do it now.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 4 at 2017 7:02 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 04 Sep 2017 19:02:33 -0400

Ask a recruiter - he or she would know best especially if you have to wait so long to go. Are they bothering you? Did your dentist say they need to come out soon? Because I didn't get mine out until like two or three years after I was in the Army. I never even had a dentist say anything until I was in the Army about them. He said the bottom two needed to come out but said they could take all four while they were in there. I said go ahead.

It really sucks the first few days. Honestly if they aren't bothering you right now, just wait and see if you get in the military.

Response by SGT Jim Arnold made Sep 4 at 2017 7:19 PM

SGT Jim Arnold — Mon, 04 Sep 2017 19:19:25 -0400

unless youre experiencing problems now I would wait until basic and AIT completion even then it's a day off after the dentist pulls the teeth, some tylenol 3 and the look of a chipmunk for a day or two

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 4 at 2017 7:36 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 04 Sep 2017 19:36:53 -0400

You can still have them in when you join. If you have dental insurance now I would just get them done. A lot of dental work is based on medical readiness. For a long while getting dental work (other than check-ups) done was difficult unless it hindered your ability to deploy (Cat 3 and 4, I believe). Of course the mission Optempo has slowed a bit so that may not be the case right now.

Response by Maj Marty Hogan made Sep 4 at 2017 7:51 PM

Maj Marty Hogan — Mon, 04 Sep 2017 19:51:38 -0400

I have been in over 30 years. Had two pulled 20 years ago and the other two are still there. If they are not giving you probs- I would not worry about it. Most active duty dentist always say they have to go...partially because they have never actually practiced dentistry other than in the military.

Response by CWO3 Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 4 at 2017 8:20 PM

CWO3 Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 04 Sep 2017 20:20:36 -0400

Take your ASVAB first. You'll need all the smarts you can get.

Response by Cpl Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 4 at 2017 8:38 PM

Cpl Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 04 Sep 2017 20:38:02 -0400

Whatever you decide get all 4 pulled at he same time. It's better to suffer once. Two of mine were impacted and pushed my bottom teeth out of alignment. The longer they stay the more likely you'll have issues later.

Response by SSgt Christopher Brose made Sep 4 at 2017 9:08 PM

SSgt Christopher Brose — Mon, 04 Sep 2017 21:08:16 -0400

I had two pulled in high school. The Navy pulled the other two.

Response by CAPT Kevin B. made Sep 4 at 2017 9:14 PM

CAPT Kevin B. — Mon, 04 Sep 2017 21:14:36 -0400

Wisdom teeth are not a disqualifier. So you can get them done later for free. Had to chuckle as I knew I had them and was getting my predeployment work up prior to Antarctica. The dentist showed me an X-Ray which showed the wisdom teeth. When he moved it away, I could see the syringe in the other hand. An hour later was told to sleep in, take two aspirin, and not call the doctor. As it turned out, I was just one of five lucky winners that day.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 4 at 2017 9:35 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 04 Sep 2017 21:35:23 -0400

Recruiter here.

You can't join for ~6 months after having them pulled. So, if you intend on enlisting ASAP, and they're not giving you a real problem right now...don't.

If you don't intend on joining for a couple years, it really doesn't matter either way. You can join with or without them.

Response by PV2 Somtay Sadabseng made Sep 4 at 2017 10:45 PM

PV2 Somtay Sadabseng — Mon, 04 Sep 2017 22:45:14 -0400

I got 2 pulled in garrison and the other 2 during a deployment in Kosovo. If there hurting you take them out. It wasn't pleasant having the last two pull on a deployment

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 5 at 2017 9:33 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 05 Sep 2017 09:33:50 -0400

If they're causing you problems now, get it done now.

Response by Sgt Wayne Wood made Sep 5 at 2017 11:18 AM

Sgt Wayne Wood — Tue, 05 Sep 2017 11:18:46 -0400

Marines will do it for ya in boot camp...

Did i mention OJT Dental Corpsmen?

Response by MSgt Gerald Orvis made Sep 5 at 2017 1:04 PM

MSgt Gerald Orvis — Tue, 05 Sep 2017 13:04:31 -0400

Hmmm...I had a full set of choppers when I joined the USMC and one thing I learned about the USN Dental Corps dentists is that they would rather pull a tooth than fix it. When I was a SSgt at Camp Pendleton, my wisdom teeth (impacted) began to bother me so I had them taken out at a branch dental clinic. The deed was done by a LT dentist (whom I later found out was NOT an oral surgeon) who gave me one shot of novocaine and went to work. He ran into problems: the roots of one wisdom tooth was curved into my jawbone and the tooth was not coming out as expected. So the Dr. called on his dental clinic commander, and between the two of them they drilled and pried and got it out - three hours later! When I got out of the chair, my uniform was soaking wet and my face felt like I'd been worked over by Muhammed Ali bareknuckles. My then-wife (who was a civilian dental assistant) was highly p.o.'d about all this (in civilian dentistry, the oral surgeons put the patients under anesthesia for such things) and wanted to go to the base CG to complain, but I talked her out of it - I was just glad it was over. Had I to do again, I'd have gotten the job done by a civilian oral surgeon, as much as that might have cost!
Maybe military dentistry has improved since that time, but I'd still consider getting your wisdom teeth removed by a competent civilian oral surgeon (if you can afford it or have dental insurance) BEFORE you swear the oath.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 7 at 2017 9:13 AM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 07 Sep 2017 09:13:49 -0400

I have been in for a little over 6 years now and still have my bottom ones. They ask me every year if they cause problems. Nope. so they leave them alone.

Response by PV2 J M made Sep 14 at 2017 9:23 AM

PV2 J M — Thu, 14 Sep 2017 09:23:57 -0400

I would wait

Response by Lcpl Riley made Jan 3 at 2018 12:08 AM

Lcpl Riley — Wed, 03 Jan 2018 00:08:19 -0500

They come out anyways, if that helps. Does suck getting them taken out in boot camp though

Response by Sgt Stephen Brown made Feb 24 at 2022 8:52 PM

Sgt Stephen Brown — Thu, 24 Feb 2022 20:52:05 -0500

I would think if they are not bothering you leave them alone. Mine were removed while I was overseas. One of them began giving me problems, went in had that one pulled than went back couple weeks later and the rest were removed. If you are set o having them removed just wait a bit until you are settled in than get it done.

Response by SSG Jack Scott made Feb 24 at 2022 11:30 PM

SSG Jack Scott — Thu, 24 Feb 2022 23:30:33 -0500

The military will issue everything you need and pull your teeth at no cost!